Districts informed many educators of the possible layoffs by March 15, a deadline set by the state for warning certificated staff of "reductions in force." Districts have until May 15 to finalize layoffs of certificated and classified employees.

Seniority determines who is laid off, not job performance.

At some districts, hundreds of temporary teachers, those working on one-year contracts, were also given notices telling them they may not be rehired as a matter of standard policy.

Districts are not required to issue these notices by March 15, but some treat the employees similarly to their permanent certificated staffs.

For example, Irvine Unified gave these notices to 205 temporary teachers. Irvine has sent out these notices each of the past few years and eventually offered new contracts to all its temporary teachers.

As in past years, many of the warning notices could be rescinded once districts get a clearer picture of how they will meet their financial obligations, such as getting employees to take pay cuts and getting more retirements.

Last summer, O.C. school districts eliminated 524 positions, after previously warning of about 1,500 job losses. Most of the affected employees, though, were able to be rehired into other positions.

The layoff lists were requested by the Orange County Register through a public records act request.

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